During the WWE Elimination Chamber live event in Canada, a lead-up to April’s WrestleMania, those in attendance booed the U.S. national anthem, much to sports analyst Pat McAfee‘s rage.
Sung by Elizabeth Irving, who also performs anthems for the Vancouver Canucks ice hockey team and Vancouver Whitecaps Football Club, the booing reached a particular fever pitch at the song’s crescendo and lyrics of “and the rockets’ red glare.” Throughout the performance, captured and shared on social media, Irving maintained a light smile on her face and continued onward.
McAfee posted a video from the telecast on X showcasing his reaction to the incident: “Kinda sucks that [the event’s] in the terrible country of Canada that booed our national anthem to start this entire thing,” he yelled while getting out of his seat, as co-announcers Michael Cole and Wade Barrett were seen laughing in response.
Held in Toronto, Ontario, the ongoing professional wrestling spectacle is the 15th Elimination Chamber event, taking place at Rogers Centre March 1. Featuring big names like John Cena and Logan Paul, the event began livestreaming on Peacock at 4 p.m. PT. The showcase also marked the glorious return of pro wrestler Jade Cargill, who had been absent from WWE TV since she was attacked backstage on Friday Night SmackDown in November.
The booing seems to be a continuation of an apparent tit for tat that began almost two weeks ago, when hockey fans in Montreal jeered at the Star-Spangled Banner during a hockey matchup between the two countries amid ongoing tensions with tariff disputes. Since then, some New York Rangers fans have taken to booing back the Canadian national anthem.
